Jatinegara

Jatinegara, originally called Meester Cornelis, is one of the districts of East Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the oldest areas in Jakarta, established in the 17th century, and has many buildings from the colonial period. The area has a rich history and was once home to people from many different backgrounds, including indigenous Christians, Chinese, and Arab communities.

Jatinegara is also known for its large railway station, Jatinegara railway station, which is one of the biggest in Jakarta. It sits on the border between the districts of Jatinegara and Matraman. There is another place called Jatinegara in the area of Cakung, but it does not share the same historic background as the Jatinegara in Jakarta.

History

The name Jatinegara comes from Jatina Nagara, a Sundanese phrase meaning "the might of the state". It reminds us of the brave princes of Banten who fought against the Dutch East India Company.

During the Dutch colonial time, the area was called Meester Cornelis, named after Cornelis Senen, an important preacher and teacher. In 1656, he was given land east of Ciliwung for his estate. Later, the area grew with wide roads, a market, and a fort. It became important for transportation when railways and trams were built in the 1800s and early 1900s, connecting it to other cities like Bogor and Karawang.

During World War II, the Japanese changed the name to Jatinegara because it sounded too Dutch. The name has stayed the same ever since.

Subdistricts

Jatinegara is one of the districts of East Jakarta. It is bordered by Bekasi Barat Raya and Bekasi Timur Raya to the north, Kali Sunter to the east, the Kali Malang canal and the Jakarta–Cikampek Toll Road to the south, and the Ciliwung River to the west.

The district of Jatinegara is divided into eight smaller areas called kelurahan or subdistricts.

List of important places

• Koinonia Church
• Bethesda Church
• St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
• Fu De Gong Chinese Temple
• Shia Djin Kong Chinese Temple
• Cipinang Besar Cemetery (Chinese Cemetery)
• Jatinegara Regional Market
• Kampung Melayu Terminal
• tvOne headquarters
• Mpu Tantular University
• Gedung Wedana Meester Cornelis
• Pasar Rawa Bening
• Pasar Mester
• Pasar Induk Beras Cipinang
• Jatinegara railway station

Notable residents

Jatinegara was home to important people in its history. One was Lauw Ho, who was a leader in the area and worked with money and farming. He was also an ancestor of the Lauw-Sim-Zecha family. Another important person was Lauw Tek Kang, Lauw Ho’s son, who was also a leader and worked as a landlord and government worker.

Other

A meteorite named Meester-Cornelis fell in Jakarta Raya, Indonesia, on June 2, 1915. People collected about 24.75 kilograms of the meteorite.